The Faroe Islands

For several years I have spent part of each year in the Faroe Islands. In 2005-6 I lived for 14 months in Fuglafjørður, my father’s home town.

The Faroe Islands are 18 small islands in the North Atlantic, north of the British Isles, a semi-independent territory of Denmark, with their own language (Faroese), their own flag, and limited self-rule. It is a small country (49,000 people) and very remote, but a completely modern, industrialized Scandinavian country.

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Our Nordic Obsession Tour was small enough to travel around the islands by car, with 5 (or sometimes 6) of us in a 7-seater car that comfortably held 4, with room for backpacks and jackets in the back.

Our next scenic destination was a boat ride to the Vestmanna Bird Cliffs along the north western coast of Streymoy. These cliffs are full of waterfalls, sea stacks, and sea caves and arches. Unfortunately, they are no longer filled with birds, apparently due to warmer waters that don’t support the sea creatures that serve as food for the birds. Before our boat ride, we took a scenic detour to the little village of Kvívík and saw some Viking-era excavations at the edge of the bay.

Our day ended with a concert in the home of Elin Heinesen, a great venue for a small band.